“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”― George Bernard Shaw

Positive changes that open the doors to abundant living happen when we improve our listening skills enhanced by open communication. It amazes me to see families texting and talking constantly on their phones, living with the illusion that they are really communicating with one another.

In our early years of marriage we enjoyed married life so much we never realized we did not know how to communicate, especially when we experienced challenging situations. The first two crises that hit us hard were becoming parents and my dissatisfaction with my job.

Fortunately at that time we experienced a Marriage Encounter weekend which was actually an intense communications course. That experience changed our lives by offering us tools to use to improve our communication skills. We also left that weekend realizing more fully that any issue of consequence, a job issue, the birth of a new baby or a health issue, affects both in that relationship. These major events affect the couple, the children and the extended family. Whenever a crisis comes up us we have renewed gratitude for that weekend and the tools it gave us to draw strength from one another in facing any issue.

Since it is easier for me to express myself by writing that is how I personally begin the process. Once I have it in writing I use my writing as a tool for verbal communication. Find what works for you and use that tool as soon as the issue surfaces.

Some families deal with family crises by trying to resolve them individually and do not involve the entire family. Unfortunately there are no secrets because what is not verbalized is internalized by the energy that is transmitted to all members of the family.

When good communication does not happen children will have bad dreams, some will want to escape and others will just stuff it and years later they will have to deal with the affect it had on their lives.

I know this from my own experience growing up in a family that did not communicate. They always worried about what other people may think if they knew what was happening in their lives. There were no open discussions. Regardless of their assumption that they were sparing me I internalized their fear and worry. Since I had no means of communicating it started to surface with fearful dreams. Later in life it required years of therapy to get to the root cause of my fears.

A life of abundance is not only financial freedom it is the freedom to be the best person that I can be to change my world. That starts with creating positive changes in my own life. That is followed up with practicing better communication skills with others.

You may want to write in your notebook what areas of your life need improvement in your communication skills. On the next page write down what tools you plan to use to achieve this goal.